ALIVE...

I recently began working with middle school students through a program called Five Star. It’s a fairly new program, about four years old this year. (Check it out http://www.fivestarlife.org/)

The essence of the program is providing kids with an after-school option, rather than mindless video games or getting into trouble.

There are five basic principles that we will touch on throughout the three-season program. Dream, Excellence, Integrity, Responsibility, and Service are the five principles Five Star is based on. Currently, we are talking about dreams with the kids, and it’s quite inspiring to hear what some of the girls want to do; not only with their current living situations, or family situations, but with their futures.

It’s been an amazing journey thus far, and I must say, I’m so excited that there is more to come…

I have eight girls in my group, from Brown Intermediate Center. They are remarkable young ladies, and I can’t say it enough how lucky I am to be a part of their lives.

We started nearly four weeks ago and two Saturdays ago, we took nearly 130 kids to a camp called Manowe, located in Sturgis, Michigan. There, we were able to do a number of activities with our kids, including a high-ropes course. I must say, it was intimidating to look at and I’m 27! I can’t imagine a 12, 13, or 14-year-old looking up, saying, ‘I can do this’.

However, the strength and perseverance of these kids’ continues to amaze me to this day. And probably will for a LONG time.

As we get strapped in for our adventure, a number of the girls opted to not complete the course. However, after a little encouragement from us, their coaches, the girls, their peers, began cheering them on. Some still decided not to complete it, but a number of them tried. They tried and conquered. I guess it goes back to chasing a ‘dream’. It takes steps to get there and with a simple element, like a ropes course, they ALL took steps to get to the next level…even if it was only getting to the top and NOT completing the course. They were able to get to a level, that in the beginning, they thought wasn’t possible to get to. Amazing…these kids are amazing…

We were all meant to live for something, something that brings us ALIVE...which in turn, brings others ALIVE…

So…'don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come ALIVE, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come ALIVE'...